System and method for spoken caller identification in a cellular telephone headset

ABSTRACT

The subject disclosure describes monitoring when a headset is in communication with a mobile communication device, detecting the headset, comparing a name of a caller and a telephone number of the caller against a list of names and telephone numbers previously stored in a memory, determining that the name of the caller or the telephone number of the caller matches one of the names and telephone numbers in the list, determining that the one of the names and telephone numbers is associated with a pre-recorded message that the user previously recorded and stored in the memory, retrieving the pre-recorded message, and performing a text-to-speech conversion on the name and telephone number of the caller to generate a synthesized speech signal spoken text message and sending the synthesized speech signal and the pre-recorded message to the headset. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/019,274, filed Feb. 9, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/475,110, filed Sep. 2, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,288,311, issued Mar. 15, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/973,601, filed Aug. 22, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,855,616, issued Oct. 7, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/782,342, filed Mar. 1, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,538,491, issued Sep. 17, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/746,417, filed May 9, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,284, issued Apr. 2, 2013, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to caller identification, and more particularly relates to spoken caller identification.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Incoming caller identification, a feature that displays the caller's number for incoming calls to a called customer, allows selective acceptance of certain calls based on the calling number while other calls are either not answered or are routed to a message center. The feature is implemented by transmitting the calling line identification to the called customer landline telephone or cellular telephone in a data message. The data message is displayed by the landline telephone or cellular telephone in a text format for the customer. Because customers typically remember only a few, frequently called telephone numbers, a feature that additionally provides the caller name is substantially more useful to customers in deciding whether to accept a call.

In a call announcement arrangement which is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,358, the calling party name is obtained from a database search and a text-to-speech unit generates speech signals, rather than a data message, for transmission to the called landline telephone. The calling party name is spoken at the landline telephone instead of being displayed. For a conventional analog landline telephone, the name is spoken after the called party has answered in response to ringing at the landline telephone but before a connection is completed to the caller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a spoken caller identification system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for providing a spoken caller identification through a headset of a mobile communication device; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data processing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a spoken caller identification system 100 including a mobile communication device 102 and a headset 104. The mobile communication device 102 is preferably a cellular telephone, or any other portable device, having an associated telephone number. The mobile communication device 102 includes a caller identification module 106, a headset module 108, a converter module 110, and a memory 112. The headset 104 is preferably an earpiece worn by a user, a hands free vehicle communication system, or any other device capable of connecting with the mobile communication device 102. The mobile communication device 102 and the headset 104 communicate through a physical connection, or more preferably through a wireless connection such as an IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible wireless fidelity (WiFi) connection or a wireless Bluetooth connection.

If the headset module 108 detects that the mobile communication device 102 is connected to the headset 104, the headset module sends an activation signal to the converter module 110. When the mobile communication device 102 receives an incoming telephone call, the caller identification module 106 extracts caller identification information, such as the telephone number and/or the caller's name, associated with the call. Regardless of whether the headset 104 is present, the caller identification module 106 preferably displays the caller identification information in a text format on a screen 114. If the converter module 110 is activated, however, it compares the calling party name and/or telephone number against a list of names and/or telephone numbers previously stored by the user in the memory 112. If there is an exact (or, if desired, a close) match to one of the names or telephone numbers stored in the memory 112, the converter module 110 retrieves the name associated with the telephone number in the memory 112.

The converter module 110 then performs a text-to-speech conversion on either the caller identification information as received from the caller identification module 106, or on the name stored by the user in the memory 112. The text-to-speech conversion converts the text received from the caller identification module 106 or the memory 112 into a synthesized speech signal that is then output to the headset 104. Alternatively, the user may pre-record a message (such as a name) associated with an entry in the memory 112, and the pre-recorded message may be output to the headset 104 in place of or in addition to the synthesized speech. All of these steps may be completed before the user answers the incoming telephone call.

The spoken caller identification system 100 may also identify the sender and/or text of an Instant Message sent to the mobile communication device 102. When the mobile communication device 102 receives an Instant Message, the mobile communication device performs the text-to-speech conversion on the caller identification for the Instant Message in the same manner as for a telephone call. Additionally, the mobile communication device 102 preferably performs the text-to-speech conversion on the Instant Message, wherein the entire Instant Message is played as a synthesized speech signal through the headset 104.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for providing spoken caller identification through a headset of a mobile communication device. At block 202, the mobile communication device determines if the headset is in communication with the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device performs a text-to-speech conversion on a caller identification for an incoming telephone call when the headset is in communication with the mobile communication at block 204. At block 206, the mobile communication device sends a spoken caller identification to the headset. The spoken caller identification is sent through a wireless or a physical connection. The headset plays the spoken caller identification to a user of the mobile communication at block 208.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a data processing device 300 comprising a processor 302 and a computer-readable medium such as a memory 304. The memory 304 stores a set of instructions to manipulate the processor to perform the method 200 of FIG. 2 above. In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capture carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives may be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

The spoken caller identification system 100 thus provides the user with a number of advantages. One advantage is that the user is able to determine the identity of the caller without having to look at a display screen of the mobile communication device. This ability allows the user to receive the spoken caller identification while moving around in proximity to, but not actually holding, the mobile communication device 102. Also, if the user is driving a vehicle or carrying the mobile communication device 102 under clothing, in a pocket, or in a purse, then the user does not have to search for the mobile communication device to determine the caller identification of the incoming call.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented by software programs executable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionality as described herein.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the FIGs. are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosed subject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a mobile device comprising a processor, a message; obtaining, by the mobile device, identification information associated with the message; receiving, by the mobile device, an activation signal indicating that an audio device is in communication with the mobile device; responsive to receiving the activation signal: comparing, by the mobile device, contact information with the identification information associated with the message, wherein the contact information is stored in a memory; determining, by the mobile device, that the identification information is associated with an entry in the memory based on the comparing, in accordance with a match with the contact information in the entry to yield matching contact information; converting, by the mobile device, the matching contact information into a first synthesized speech signal; converting, by the mobile device, the message into a second synthesized speech signal; and providing, by the mobile device, the first synthesized speech signal and the second synthesized speech to the audio device for audible presentation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a text message.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a recorded message is associated with the entry in the memory, and wherein the method further comprises providing the recorded message to the audio device for audible presentation.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is in accordance with an inexact match with the contact information in the entry, the match being inexact in accordance with user preferences.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises a headset.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the headset is in physical contact with a user of the mobile device, and the mobile device is not in physical contact with the user.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is stored in the memory to yield a stored message and the message is associated with the entry, and wherein the method further comprises: converting the stored message into a third synthesized speech signal; and providing the third synthesized speech signal to the audio device.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is an instant message, and wherein the identification information comprises a name of a sender of the instant message.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio device is part of a hands-free communication system.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio device comprises an earpiece.
 11. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receiving a message; obtaining identification information associated with the message; receiving an activation signal indicating that an audio device is in communication with the device; responsive to receiving the activation signal: comparing contact information with the identification information associated with the message, wherein the contact information is stored in the memory; determining that the identification information is associated with an entry in the memory based on the comparing, in accordance with a match with the contact information in the entry to yield matching contact information; converting the matching contact information into a first synthesized speech signal; converting the message into a second synthesized speech signal; and providing the first synthesized speech signal and the second synthesized speech to the audio device for audible presentation.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the message comprises a text message.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein a recorded message is associated with the entry in the memory, and wherein the memory stores additional executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising providing the recorded message to the audio device for audible presentation.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the determining is in accordance with an inexact match with the contact information in the entry, the match being inexact in accordance with user preferences.
 15. The device of claim 11, wherein the audio device comprises a headset.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the headset is in physical contact with a user of the device, and the device is not in physical contact with the user.
 17. The device of claim 11, wherein the message is stored in the memory to yield a storage message and the message is associated with the entry, and wherein the memory stores further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: converting the stored message into a third synthesized speech signal; and providing the third synthesized speech signal to the audio device.
 18. The device of claim 11, wherein the message is an instant message, and wherein the identification information comprises a name of a sender of the instant message.
 19. The device of claim 11, wherein the audio device comprises an earpiece.
 20. A computer-readable storage device that stores executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising: receiving a message; obtaining identification information associated with the message; receiving an activation signal indicating that an audio device is in communication with a device; responsive to receiving the activation signal: comparing contact information with the identification information associated with the message; determining that the identification information is associated with an entry based on the comparing, in accordance with a match with the contact information in the entry to yield matching contact information; converting the matching contact information into a first synthesized speech signal; converting the message into a second synthesized speech signal; and providing the first synthesized speech signal and the second synthesized speech to the audio device for audible presentation. 